Crowns of Nyaxia Book 5: The Lion and the Deathless Dark by Carissa Broadbent

 

Crowns of Nyaxia Book 5

#1 New York Times bestselling author and BookTok sensation Carissa Broadbent returns with a brand new novel in the Crowns of Nyaxia series, The Lion & the Deathless Dark – the first book in the Bloodborn Duet.

Some blood tastes like vengeance. Some blood tastes like grief. Some blood tastes like nothing at all.

Under an eternal night, the world has been ravaged by ten years of war between humans and vampires. Kyrene scrapes by as a bounty hunter, bearing a blessed sword from the goddess of justice. But in the wake of a devastating loss, Kyrene commits a crime that makes her a target for mortals and gods alike – and she is still desperate for vengeance.

Her only chance at survival – and revenge – is making a deal with her enemy, the silver-tongue vampire prince, Septimus, who offers her one final to slay the gods themselves.

Together, Kyrene and Septimus must hunt the ultimate marks, all while navigating a web of prophecies and curses. Septimus is calculating and mysterious, masking secrets bloodthirsty enough to consume them both. Yet, most dangerous of all, Kyrene finds an unexpected kinship in him.

But their growing attraction is deadly in a world where the only currency is blood. And Kyrene will stop at nothing to fulfill her ultimate goal: to kill the goddess of vampires, even if it means sacrificing love for revenge.

Every kingdom breaks...Every ruler kneels...This is how a pantheon falls.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/240019929-the-lion-the-deathless-dark

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

It’s been since the sun was lost to the endless night and the war has begun. A lot has happened since then. And for those who have been patiently waiting, we finally get Septimus’s story! Well, maybe not his point of view in this book, but we finally get to see what he has been truly up to. He’s been plotting away for a long time. We know to break the curse on his kingdom, but we learn just how deep that goes. How much plotting he has truly been doing that has all lead to these moments. And in the end, he needs Kyrene. Kyrene wields the sword of the goddess of justice. For the last ten years she has been doing the goddess’s bidding. But after a devastating loss, she commits quite the crime. Killing a god. And she isn’t done. Her swords deals with justice and she will have it. She will just have to work with Septimus to get it. Because he needs less gods in the world as well. But it is no easy task and the kinship they find between them only grows. Leading to quite a crazy ending. Absolutely loved this book. It kept you on your toes the whole way through. Just when you think you learn one thing, something throws you for a loop. And I loved getting to know Septimus and Kyrene. Watching these two become closer and closer, fighting for one another, and trying so hard to do some good despite feeling like they are monsters themselves. Yeah, these two were fantastic and I can’t wait for more.  And that ending? Wow! I need to get my hands on the next book asap. I can’t wait to see how it all ends. 

Creepin U Season 2 Book 8: Operation: Ogre by Mars Quinn

 

Creepin U Season 2 Book 8

We’re just friends. Nothing more.

Jaxon

My crush on the hot ogre goalie isn’t going anywhere, but my best friend and roommate, Christopher, is certain that he can help me and Aaron get together. Chris should know; he’s famous on campus for his hook-ups and dates. I’m hesitant about his plan, but I can never say no to Christopher. And then I will be with Aaron, and that’s what I want, right?

Christopher

Jaxon, my shy ogre best friend, needs my help to get Aaron, one of the most popular guys in school. I’ll help him, of course--I’d do anything for Jaxon--but I have no experience with romance besides fictional. So armed with romance books and a foolproof plan, I decide we’ll pretend to date each other to make Aaron jealous. It’s genius and will definitely work! Nothing is going to get in the way of my plan, not my annoying siblings, not my lack of dating experience, and definitely not this odd feeling I have when I see Aaron and Jaxon together.

You are formally readmitted to Creelin University, known locally as “Creepin U.” The only thing wilder than the monsters prowling around the campus are the spicy MM love stories unfolding between the classes. This is a stand-alone romance with an introverted ogre, his mandated extroverted human, friends-to-lovers, fake dating, and lots of feels. This book is intended for adult audiences only.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/252781622-operation

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

Returning to Creepin U and I’m so excited! I’m kicking this off with Jaxon and Chris! Chris and Jaxon have been inseparable since meeting at Creepin U. Best friends and roommates. When they return from their summer vacation to start the new semester, they are more than happy to see one another. Even with the amount of time they spent together over the summer. And when Jaxon admits to Chris he may like another ogre, Chris is ready to help! Though there are some mixed feelings about it. Chris has a reputation when it comes to romance but the truth is, he has no experience at all. He just can’t escape the lie that started way back in high school. And then there is the fact that there is something bothering him about Jaxon being into someone else. Jaxon may have said he he had a crush, but almost the moment Chris starts to help his crush notice him, Jaxon comes to the realization that the only person’s attention he truly wants is Chris’s. And the moment they kiss? It’s over for both of them. And while Jaxon knows he wants Chris forever, Chris fears losing his best friend. Can they put away their fears long enough to realize that the two of them together is everything they could have ever wanted? So sweet! I adored these two. Truly best friends to lovers. It was clear that these two were meant for one another. I actually love the little twists this took when it came to the fake dating tropes. And that Jaxon was quick to realize who his true feelings were for. A great way for me to kick off this new season of Creepin U! And I’m excited for so much more!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

NY Rush Book 1: Rookie Attraction by Ava Olsen

 

NY Rush Book 1

Selwin

I planned on coming out in the NHL. I didn't plan on having to switch teams to survive it.

With the New York Rush, keeping my head down should be safe—until rookie defenseman Finn Baran shows up. Finn is talented, determined, impossible to ignore. Every late-night conversation and every stolen glance on the ice pulls me closer to a line I swore I'd never cross.

Falling for my teammate was never part of the playbook.

Finn

After going undrafted, I thought my hockey dreams were over. A last-minute tryout with the Rush gives me one more chance—and puts me face-to-face with Selwin Kirkland, a player I've admired for years.

Our chemistry is undeniable.

The timing couldn't be worse.

As friendship turns into something more, we have to decide if protecting our careers is worth losing the one thing we never saw coming: each other.

Rookie Attraction is a bi awakening, friends-to-lovers, hurt/comfort MM hockey romance. Book 1 of the NY Rush series—where love doesn't play by hockey rules.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/240635583-rookie-attraction

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

When Sel decided it was time to stop hiding who he was and announce he was bisexual, he never imagined just how bad the reactions could be. Especially from his own NHL team. The team he thought of as family. The moment he walks into the locker room, things are bad and escalate to the point where he knows he needs to leave or risk his safety. Being traded to the NY Rush has to be a new and fresh start. And luckily most of the team seems to be good with him. But even better is seeing a familiar face that he knows is definitely okay with him. Finn is beyond excited to be with the NY Rush and even more so when he learns that Sel was traded to the team. He has always admired Sel and after meeting him over the summer, he feels good that they can be friends. And even partners on the ice. But their friendship slowly turns into so much more as they get to know one another. And while Sel fears Finn’s future if they get involved, Finn is also someone who knows what he wants. So it’s only a matter of time until that pull between them will be too much to resist. Great start to this new series! Sel and Finn have great chemistry on and off the ice. They are really perfect for one another and balance each other out so well. Both of them have a lot going on in their lives, but they can lean on one another. I loved watching their friendship blossom to more. And I’m super excited for book two!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Darling Brothers Book 4: Painted in Wildflowers by Emmy Sanders

 

The Darling Brothers Book 4

I’ve always listened to my heart, and what it wants is him.

Remi

I can confidently say I never thought my crush on my best friend’s older brother would amount to anything.

Until Benson Harper returns to Darling, possibly to stay.

As the forty-two-year-old desperately searches for his sense of self, I begin falling for a man I never truly knew before now. One who’s kind, honest, and caring.

Amidst wildlife rehabilitation, explorations in mountain climbing, and the strained tensions with his brother, Benson works up the courage to tell his family he’s autistic. And I gain companionship that goes far beyond the eldest Harper brother shadowing me on the ranch.

I wasn’t prepared for love to bloom in the quiet days spent by Benson’s side.

Now, I’m not prepared to lose him.

Painted in Wildflowers is a brother’s-best-friend romance at a small-town ranch, with a twelve-year age gap, the cutest-ever sidekick, Deaf and autistic representation, and one very HEA. It’s book 4 in The Darling Brothers series but can be read as a standalone.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/244335689-painted-in-wildflowers

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

The final Darling Brothers book has arrived! It’s Remi’s turn. And it was everything you could have wanted for his story and the finale of this series. Remi has had a crush on his best friend’s older brother since he was a teenager. Never did he expect anything to happen. Especially since Benson had left Darling years ago. But now that Benson is home and finds himself at the Darling Ranch more often than not, that long ago crush is surfacing. But what’s even better? It’s more real this time. Because now Remi is getting to know Benson and he is both not what he expected and probably exactly what he has been looking for. Can it be possible for Benson to have feelings for Remi too? Benson returns home after so long staying away and being anything but himself. He finally has a name for what he never understood about himself until now and it comes with much needed peace. Now, he just wants to work on finding out exactly who he is. He just never expected that Remi Darling would be the one to embrace Benson’s true self and love him for it. Benson has never felt safer than when he is with Remi. And maybe they are exactly what one another have been looking for all along. I loved these two. They were so sweet and beautiful and just utterly perfect for one another in every way. I loved how they found one another at the right time. I just absolutely loved their story and it couldn’t have been a sweeter end to the series. I will definitely miss these characters! Great finale and a great series!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Legends & Fury Book 3: Yard Sale by EM Lindsey

 

Legends & Fury Book 3

“Would you rather be trapped in a cabin with your arch enemy, or not be allowed to shower for a hundred days?”

Problem number one: My arch enemy is the jackass reporter who keeps making up lies about me.

Problem number two: He’s also absurdly hot so the idea of being trapped in a cabin with him gives me ideas.

Problem number three: As much as he pisses me off, Aravind Gupta might actually be right about a few things: namely that my career in hockey is probably over.

A poorly timed check might have robbed me of being able to retire old and with nearly half of my original teeth, and Aravind was right there on the front lines to tell the world about it.

In a wild attempt to get away and figure out what comes next, I find him on my same ferry, heading out to a quiet island where I planned to do nothing but bed rot. 

Aravind has other ideas though, and he makes those known before we’re even off the boat.

And while it’s not like me to want to sleep with a man I can’t stand, somehow, he’s turned into the only bright light in the dark shadows my terrible family casts. 

I might not be used to believing in myself, but with Aravind’s quiet and gentle persistence, I’m starting to think that despite what I’ve always been taught, I deserve my happily ever after.

Yard Sale is the third and final book of the Legends and Fury trilogy, a spin-off of Punk as Puck. It’s a rivals to lovers romance featuring a tired, injured D-man with a crappy family who is failing to cope at life, a reluctant reporter with a thing for lace and silk who is doing his best to figure out who he is and what he wants, sandcastles, walks on the beach, making unique use of panties, the joys of too many aunties coming to visit, and a steamy, swoony happily ever after.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/252600533-yard-sale

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

The final book of this series has arrived! I’m really sad to see it end. This was such a great series. We end the series with Tiago and Aravind. And if you have read the previous book, you know these two don’t exact get along. Aravind tends to say exactly the wrong thing and is a sports reporter. So if you aren’t at your best, prepare for that bad report. And Tiago is having quite a time. Tiago has been slowly going blind for a long time now. And he knows that the day is coming sooner rather than later where his vision will be gone for good. But then to add to it all, he gets a very bad injury at his hockey game. Jeopardizing his career. This may just be the game that makes him retire. And of course, Aravind is there to write about it. Aravind hates his job. It’s not the type of writing he wanted and the fact that his cheating of an ex works in the same building as him does not help. He is counting the days until his contract is up. His last article will be on Tiago’s injury. He knows he hasn’t been his best around Tiago, but he is trying. And that comes soon when the two of them find themselves on a ferry together. And the chemistry between them ignites. All the tension finally releases in an unexpected way. And both of them realize…they want more. More of one another. So when Tiago needs a major buffer between his horrible family, Aravind is there to be the perfect boyfriend. And well, pretending is the last thing on their mind when everything feels realer and realer by the moment. Can they actually have a future together? These two definitely had some enemies to lovers vibe, but I loved when they actually communicated and were able to get past some things and realize that they are actually pretty perfect for one another. I loved watching them get to know one another better and falling hard for each other. Just a perfect way to end this series!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sinful Things Book 1: Craving Sin by Riley Hart

 

Sinful Things Book 1

Rian

As head of the O’Shea family, I don’t make mistakes.

I certainly don’t become obsessed with a guy. Stalk him. And then proceed to kidnap him to a secluded cabin when an attempt on my life is made.

But that’s exactly what I did.

While my family hunts down the men who tried to kill me, Doctor Preston Abbott is trapped with me, and I expect him to nurse me back to health before paying the ultimate sacrifice. Abbott…who is also the governor’s son.

Each day my interest in him grows. He cares for me, shares parts of his life with me, willingly gives his body to me and begs for more…even though he knows he’ll die by my hand.

I never thought I would want someone again this way, that I would crave another person the way I do Abbott. He’s too good for the violence of my world, and all the sinful things I revel in. I’m a monster but he’s mine until the end.

Mine to crave…mine to touch…mine to kill…

Craving Sin contains MCs dealing with grief, violence, darker themes, and morally gray characters with no redemption arc. This is still a Riley Hart romance, so you can expect a happily ever after for our guys.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/252732477-craving-sin

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

A great start to this new series! This is a spin off to Sins of the Father. Now actually the stories of some of the dads we’ve seen in that series. The book starts with Rian. Rian is currently the head of the O’Shea family. He has been drowning in his grief for too long. He lost his wife nine years ago and left his son alone so Rian could deal with his own grief. He wasn’t the best father he could have been and he has been doing what he can to change it now. But he never expects to feel that love for someone again. Because that same instinct gut feeling when he met his wife? He feels it again. For a man. Abbott. A doctor and later he learns, the governor’s son. All Rian wants is to see Abbott again to see if it was a fluke. It wasn’t. And what makes matters worse? The two of them are shot at in the process. Rian gets hurts and essentially kidnaps Abbott to take care of him and maybe even to protect him. But he made a mistake. Dragging Abbott along is a death sentence. He can’t live knowing Rian and what Rian does. So what is he going to do? Oof! These two!! Absolutely loved them and their story. Despite the impossible situation they find themselves in, they still manage to fall so hard for one another. Abbott is exactly what Rian needs and vice versa. Abbott needs a family and someone who cares about him and there is no one better than Rian for that. They both deserve a lot of happiness after what they’ve been through in life. I just loved getting to know them. And their story is just the beginning of something big going down. There are other players on the board set out to hurt the O’Shea family. And I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Comebacks Book 3: King of the Crease by AJ Truman

 

The Comebacks Book 3

Hank's new teammate is a secret prince. Red, white, and royal WTF?!

Crown Prince Nicholas of Ardenia has everything—except the freedom to be himself. Trapped by tradition and suffocating expectations, he secretly longs for a simple life…one where he can make real friends, chase real passions, and maybe even fall in love. So when a diplomatic trip to the U.S. offers him a rare chance to slip away from his royal identity, he seizes it. Disguised as just another guy, he spends December in a cozy small town and signs on as the local beer league’s backup goalie.

Hank, the team’s main goalie, is a charming, big-hearted plumber still piecing together his confidence after a brutal divorce. He’s spent most of his life playing the comic relief, never the romantic lead—but something about the shy newcomer on the ice makes him wonder if he might deserve a happily ever after after all. As Hank teaches Nicholas the finer points of goaltending, their easy camaraderie deepens into crackling chemistry, with more than a few stolen moments under the mistletoe.

But Nicholas’s growing feelings come with a painful he can’t stay hidden forever. Will the crown cost him his shot at true love?

KING OF THE CREASE is a warm, funny, and swoony holiday MM romance featuring secret royalty, teammates-to-lovers magic, and lots of Christmas charm. It’s book 3 in the Comebacks series but can be read as a standalone.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/245210105-king-of-the-crease

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

Being the prince of a small country is not an easy life. Nick has spent his life following the rules and never truly being himself. He’s tired. He’s lonely. And he needs a desperate break. So when his friend Millie tells him to stay with her and her family for the holiday season, he finds himself agreeing. He’ll spend the next few weeks pretending to be normal. For once, he can just be Nick. He just never expects to fall in love. Hank is used to never being the main character of someone’s story. Always the comic relief. His divorce years ago may have been messy, but he is so past it and made sure to be the best dad he can be to his son. He is the sweetest guy and when he meets Nick, he doesn’t hesitate to invite him to play with his hockey team. The chemistry between them is insane from the moment they meet and it doesn’t take long for them act on it. But Nick knows it is only a matter of time until he must reveal the truth to Hank about who he is. He can only hope that Hank won’t hate him for it. These two were so adorable! They were perfect for one another. Being truly themselves with one another with zero regrets. Minus the hidden true identity of Nick, but for once Nick could be himself without hiding such important parts of himself for the sake of duty. This was sweet and funny and a perfect holiday romance!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.